Driving means for taximeters



June 26, 1928. 1,675,047

W. G. ORTH ET AL DRIVING MEANS FOR TAXIMETERS Filed Aug. lO, 1925 Sheets-Sheet l June 26, 1928. 1,675,047

w. G. oRTH ET Al.

DRIVING MEANS FOR TAXIMETERS Filed Aug. 10, 1925 2 sheets-sneer 2 21M/@2m m3/ 1088 111 '8o 96 110" 070%? /If/ Patented June 26, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

WILLIAM G. ORTH AND JOHN B. MILLS, 0F DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO OHMER FARE REGISTER COMPANY, OE DAYTON, OHIO, A 'CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DRIVING MEANS FOR TAXIMETERS,

lApplication filed August 10, 1925. Serial No. 49,173.

This invention relates to a driving means for taximeters, `and consists of an improvement on the structure shown in the patentto Popp and De Horevitz, 912,728` dated February 16, 1909. One of the objects of this invention is to remedy such defects so that it will be impossible for the driver to register and charge an amount greater' than the passengerl should pay for the distance traveled or the time which the taximeter is held in waiting, or both. Y

The invention further provides an apparatus of the character referred to which shall be comparatively simple in its construction, strong, durable, efiicient in its operation, readily interchangeable with the mechanism now in use and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture. The drive for the main drive shaft consists of a gear on the said main drive shaft, which gear is driven by a worm which is at all times in-mesh with the gear.

A further object of this invention is to provide means whereby the rearward movementof the vehicle will be registered or recorded as well as the forwardmovement of the car or other vehicle.

Another objectof the invention .is to provide a novel resetting means for vthe main drive shaft of the taXirneter.

lith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combina-tion andarrangement of parts hereinafter specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings' wherein is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that various changes and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tarimeter with the casing removed, having an improved driving meansincorporated there- 1n. t Y

f Figure 2 is a cross sectional plan view on the line X-X of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the opposite side of the taximeter frame showing the resetting mechanism with the parts in vacant or for hire position, and

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a r part of thest-ructure shown in Figure 3 but with the parts in the position in which they would be when the flag shaft was in hired7 position. Referring to the drawings in detail, a shaft 10 is driven from any suitable part of the vehicle by any conventional means. The shaft may Abe driven, for instance, by a iiexible means actuated by the wheel of the car,ror it may be driven from the transmission of an automobile. Incase the taximter is carried by a vehicle other than an automobile, it will of course be necessary to drive the shaft V10 from one of the wheels of the vehicle.`V The shaft 10 is journaled in bearing plate 11 secured by screws 12 or other convenient means to the side of a taximeter 13. The shaft' 10 is provided above the bearing plate 11 with a pinion 14, and with a collar 15 below the bearing plate 11.. The pinion 14 is in mesh with a pinion 16 rotatably mounted on a shaft 17 jouinaled in the Vbearing plate 11 anda second bearing plate 18. The shaft 17 is provided with a collar 19 above the bearing plate 18 and with a pinion 2O below the said bearing plate. An annular collar 21 is rigidly cured to the shaft 17 below pinion 20, which collar'serves as a rest or stop for a spring 22 interposed between the collar 21 and a collar 23 splined to theshaft 17 by `means of a'pin 24. The collar 23 is provided with teeth 25 which together with the teeth 26 on a collar 27 carried by the pinion 16 form a one-way clutch so that as the shaft 10 rotates in one: direction the teeth 26 will ride over the teeth 25, but when the shaft 10 rotates in the opposite direction the teeth engage each other so that the sha-ft 17 is driven by the shaft 10.

The pinion 14 likewise meshes with a pinion 28 on a shaft 29, which shaft carries a pinion 30. Rigidly secured to the shaft 29 is a cam or eccentric 31 and a spring 32 is interposedbetween said cam and a collar 33 splinedonk the shaft 29'by means of a pin 34. The collar 33 is provided with teeth adapted to engage the teeth on the collar 35 form ing la one-way clutch.

It will ofcourse be understood that the teeth on the two clutches are so arranged and formed that when one clutch is driving, the other clutch is idling. But regardless Of which direction the vehicle may be propelled, one or the other of the clutches will vactuate its shafts 17 or 29. Interposed between Gli gears and 30 are two idle gears or pin- Vvalley 55 when the valley is adjacent the eX-V ions 36 and 37. Gear or pinion 36 is carried by a stub sha-ft 38 and is in mesh with the pinions and `37. The pinion or gear 37 is mounted on a stub'shaft 39 and is in mesh with the lgears 36 and 20. All of the shafts 17, 29, 38 and 39 are supported by means of the bearing plate 18.

lt will be noted that the shaft 29 is much longer than shaft 17 and is journaled at its upper end in a bearing plate 40 which is secured to the side face 13 of the meter. The shaft 29 is provided with'a collar 41 above the bearing plate 18 and-is provided with a collar 42 splined on the shaft 29 by means of a pin 43 projecting through a slot 44 provided in the hub of the collar. lIt is therevfore obvious that the collar 42 may be moved longitudinally of the shaft 29 but any rotation of the shaft' 29 will be transmitted to the collar 42. Rotatably mounted on the shaft l29 is a worin 45, which worm carries a clutch collar 46 adapted to be actuated by a clutch Acollar 47 Vcarried by the collar 42.

This clutch may consist of any conventional Y means, but :in the embodiment of this inven- Vvehicle is being propelled forward or backV- a ball clutch 51 so that as the gear 49 rotates in one direction the disc and mam drive shaft will be actuated, but if the main drive shaft be rotated in the opposite direction the ball clutch vwould not transmit this motion to the gear 49. This structure is neces-V sary when the clock mechanism (not shown) is driving the main drive shaft 50 faster Vthan the gear 49 is rotated, such as when the vehicle `is waiting after being hired or when the vehicle is moving very slowly.

By the structure heretofore described it is obvious that the shaft 29 will be rotated in the same direction regardless of whether the ward, andthat when the lever 48 has moved the collar 42 so as toengage the teeth on the collar 47with the teeth on the collar 46, the main drivev shaft will be driven so that fares will be recorded regardless of the direction of motion of the vehicle.

The flag shaft is denoted by the reference character 53, which shaftis provided with ay cam section 54 having a cut away part 55 forming a. valley. Abell crank lever 56 pro- Vvided with an arm 57 is actuated by means of a spring 58 so that the arm 57 will be pressed against cam 54 and will enter the tremity of the arm 57. The bell crank lever Y56 is fulcrumed on a pin 60 so that it can freely turn thereon.

The bell crank lever 48 is fulci'umed at 61 and is provided with a pin 62, which pin is engaged by the bell crank lever 56 when the arm 57 entersthe valley 55. ln the posin tion shown the parts are in vacant or for hire" position, but .as soon as the Hag shaft 53 is rotated so that the valley 55y is moved beyond the end of the arm, the bell cranlr lever is rotated anticloclrwise and the spring 63 actuates the bell crank lever-.48 so as to engage the collar 47 with the collar 46.

Vhen, however, the flag shaft is rotated into vacant position, as shown, the arm 57 is moved clockwise by means of the spring 58 n and the bell crank lever 48 is rotated anticlockwise so as to disengage the vcollar 47 from the collar 46 by means of the pin 62. `When in vacant position, therefore, the kmain drive shaft 50 is not actuated b v any movement ofthe vehicle. Wlhen the flag is in hired7 position the main drive shaft is actuated regardless of the direction of movement. p

The eccentric 31 act-Hates a lever 64 fulcrumbed at 65. The lever 64 is provided at its Vlower endwith a roller 66 which roller contacts with the periphery ofthe eccentric 31. Roller 66 is maintained in Contact with the eccentric by means of awspring 67 ronnected to the upper end of the lever and to the casing of the meter. The extreme upper end of the lever 64 isv provided with `aI dog 68 piv-oted to the lever at 69, which dog is adapted to actuate a ratchet 70. TheY ratchet 70 inV turn actua-tes fthe pitman 71V which actuates a counter yto indicate the totalnumberof miles or unitof distance that the vehicle has traveled, The ratchet 70 is providedwith a Vpin 72 adapted to strike a lug 7 3 on a. sliding rod 74, which rod actuates a counter to indicate the number of units of paid mileage which the vehicle has traveled. Y The sliding rod 74 is provided with a slot 75 through which extends a pin 76 on the bell cranl; lever' 56. Then the Hag shaft is in vacant position the pin 76 engages the' end of the slot 75 and vmoves ico no I

thev rod 74 to the right, as viewed in Figure 1, so that the pin 72 will not move the lug 73 a. su'mcient distance to actuate the counter'. The sliding rod 74is normally urged toward the left,as viewed in Figure 1, by means pivoted at 89 in the side of the frame.

the main drive shaft cannot be operated more than it should be, regardless of whether or not the cable should become distorted.

The'main driving shaft 50 must be reset after each passenger is discharged or before the passenger boards the vehicle. This is necessary because the main driving shaft 50 operates a. cam which in tiii'n operates a lever which controls the registration of the fares. This cam must be in zero position when the vehicle is engaged for otherwise a fare subsequent to the initial fare would be registered before the passenger had travelled the distance to which Vhe was entitled for the init-ial farejor had a sufficient waiting time. This structure is 'not shown in the drawings for the reason thatl it is very clearly shown in Figure 8 of the said patent to Popp and De Horivitz, above mentioned.

The novel resetting means is shown in detail in Figures 3 and 4 in which the mai n drive shaft 50 is shown as provided with a disc 79 rigidly secured thereon, which dise. has an annular cut awaypoition 80 extending slightly more than 180o and terminating in shoulders 81 and 82. A disc 83 is loosely mounted on the main drive shaft 50 and cairies av pivoted dog 84 which is pressed against the periphery of the disc 79 by means of a spring 85. The disc 83 is provided with a pinion 86, as shown in Figure 4, which pinion is in mesh with the segmental gear 87 carried by, a lever 88 A spring 90 is secured to the lever 88 and to a connecting rod 91. A fulcrumed lever 92 is fulcrumed at 93 and is provided with an end 94 adapted to engage the lever 88 when the flag shaft is in hired position and to hold the lever 88 depressed.

The flag shaft 53 is provided with a pin 95, which pin engages a4 shoulder 96 on a` lever 97 when the flag shaft is in the vacant or for hire position, as shown in Figures 3. However, when the flag is rotated to hired position, the pin 95 is rotated beyond the shoulder 96 as is shown in Figure 4, whereupon the spring 98 attached to the upper end of the lever 97 Land to the side of the frame pulls the lever 97 on its fulcirum 99 in an anticlockwise direction. The connecting rod 91 is secured to the lever 97 by means of a. pin 100 and is provided at its other end with a slot 101 through which extends a pin 102 on the bell crank lever 92. A spring 103 is secured to the pins and 102 so that the pin 102 is normally held at the end of the slot nearest the pin 100. However, when the pin 95 engages the shoulder 96 moving the connecting rod 91 to the right, the spring 103 rotates the bell crank lever 92 clockwise unt-il the point 104 of the -lever 92 engages the' heart cam 105 which is the cam which controls the resetting of the fare discs not shown. The bell crank lever 92 also carries near its lower end a lug 106 adapted to engage the heart cam 107, which cam is the resetting means for the extra tifare discs not shown. The cams 105 and 107 are engaged before t-he lever 97 has completed its movement, and hence the slot- 101 is required.

Vhen the flag shaft is in. vacant or for hire position, the resetting mechanism is as shown in Figure 3. Vhen the flag shaft is rotated to the hired position, the pin 95 passes beyond the shoulder 96 and the lever 97 moves to the left. being actuated by the spring 98. The lever 97 moves the connecting rod 91 to the left and rotates the bell crank lever 92 in an anticlockwise direction so that the end 94 of the lever 92 engages the upper surface of the lever 88, rotating the lever 88 on its fulcrum 89 in a clockwise direction against the tension of the spring 90 until the lever is stopped by the pin 112.

The segmental ear 87 rotates the iinion 86' in an anticlockwise direction, and the dog 84 rid-es over the shoulders 81 and 82 without turning the main drive shaft- 50. The parts except the shaft 50 are held iii this positionl as long as the Hag shait is in the hired position. However, when the tlag-shatt is rotated to vacant position the pin 95 engages the shoulder 96 and moves the lever 97 in a clockwise direction, moving the connectingl rod 91 to the right so that the spring` 103 pulls the pin 102 to the right and rotates the bell crank lever 92 in a clockwise direction, removing the end 94 from the lever 88. The spring 90 pulls the lever 88 upwards or rotatesvit in an anticlockwise direction so that the segmental gear 87 rotates the pinion 86 in a clockwise direction, and the dog 84 engages the shoulder 81 moving the main driv'e shaft 50 in a clockwise direction until the shoulder 82 is adjacent the V shaped lug 108 on the holding dog 109 pivot-ed at 110. The pin 111 carried by the lever 88 moves the dog 109 toward the main drive shaft 50, and the kV shaped lug 108 engages the shoulder 82. lVhen the shoulder 82 is engaged by the lug 108 the main drive shatt is in its vreset position.' The holding 'dog 109 is heart cam 107 resetting the fare and extra discs. It will be noted that the lever 88 is provided with a hardened bearing plate 114,

'which bearing plate is approximately twice the width of the lever 88 or of a suitable width to `prevent the end 94 of the lever 92 from sliding oit' the lever 88 in case the lever 92 should become slightly bent through hard usage.

llU

construction may be resorted to Without de-V partingfroni the spirit ofthe invention and the scope of the appended claims.

lVe claim:

l. In a taximeter, a shaft, a pinion thereon, a second shaft, ineaiis whereby the second-shaft is driven by the Said pinion regardless of the direction of motion of the vehicle, a niain drive shaft, and ineans whereby said second shaft lmay heoperatively connected with or disconnected from said iiiaiii drive shaft.

2. In a taximeter, a shaft, a gear thereon, a second shaft, a gear thereon in mesh with the first mentioned gear, a one-Way clntcli operatively connecting the second shaft with its gear, a third shaft, a gear thereon in inesli with the first mentioned gear, a one-Way clutch operatively coni'iecting the third sha ft with its gear, second gears on the second and third shafts, an even number of meshing idle gears operatively connecting the second gears on the second and third shafts so that Vthe second shaft is rotated'V in one direction regardless of the direction of rotation of the first mentioned shaft, a main drive shaft`v and means operatively connecting said second shaft With said niain drive shaft.

3. In a taxiineter, a shaft, a pinion there- Y. on, a second shaft, ineans whereby the second shaft is driven in one direction hy the said pinion regardless of its direction of rotation, a inain drive shaft, and means Wherehy'said second shaft may be operatively connected with ordiscoiiiiected from said Vniain drive shaft..

4. In a taxiineter, a main drivel shaft, a

flag shaft, a pinion and .a disc loosely mounted on said Ina-in drive shaft, a `disc rigidly secured to the inain drive shaft and provided with a rcutaway portion forming shouldersv` means vWherehy said pinion is rotated in one direction when the iag is moved from vacant to hired position, and inl Vmovement of said inain'drivesliaftwhen the flag shaft isheing rotatedfroin hired to vac-ant position.

In testimony whereof we athx our signatures.

WILLIAM G. ORTH. JOHN B. MILLS. 

